Scan barcode
A review by beforeviolets
Love's Cure, or The Martial Maid by Philip Massinger, José Alberto Pérez Díez, John Fletcher, John Fletcher
Simultaneously subversively trans and also rigidly enforcing bioessentialism. This was a really fascinating early modern play about a brother and sister who have spent most of their life (~20 years) passing as a woman and man respectively. When their family is reunited from their father’s banishment, they’re expected to return to their “original” gender roles. The play goes on to hold questions and discussions about nature vs nurture until, ultimately, heterosexual love gives the siblings the power to fulfill their traditional gender roles.
I think there’s something inherently trans still about the fact that this “love’s cure” is overtly campy and magical. The brother, having been raised entirely as a woman suddenly becomes a skilled sword fighter and master of courtly masculine manners with the kiss of a singular woman, for example. So its campiness, in requiring a benefit of doubt from the audience, does sort of argue for stubborn nurture over nature. Or you could argue that it reaffirms and comforts the audience about the power of nature to keep people cisgender. Either way, very funky and fun play with a lot to unpack and analyze.
I think there’s something inherently trans still about the fact that this “love’s cure” is overtly campy and magical. The brother, having been raised entirely as a woman suddenly becomes a skilled sword fighter and master of courtly masculine manners with the kiss of a singular woman, for example. So its campiness, in requiring a benefit of doubt from the audience, does sort of argue for stubborn nurture over nature. Or you could argue that it reaffirms and comforts the audience about the power of nature to keep people cisgender. Either way, very funky and fun play with a lot to unpack and analyze.